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the sweet scoop

the sweet scoop

Jägermeister. A spirit synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll, college kids, shot machines and the notorious Jäger Bomb. But there’s much more to this complex, century-old herbal liqueur than you may realize. Jäger is having somewhat of a “second evolution” and has been popping up on both cocktail and food menus across the country.

“We’re seeing more placements on cordial listings in higher tier restaurants, as well as cocktails coming out from top bartenders nationally,” shares Todd Richman, Corporate Mixologist for Sidney Frank, the US importer of Jägermeister (and the 2013 Tales of the Cocktail Best American Brand Ambassador winner). “Jägermeister is distilled with 56 different herbs, roots, flowers and fruits. And when you mix it with something else containing one of those ingredients, it completely changes the flavor profile.”

Whether used as a base or a modifying spirit, Jäger has become a go-to among many of the country’s top bartenders. Sean Hoard of Portland, Oregon’s Teardrop Lounge cites that “the incredibly balanced flavor profile” makes Jägermeister “a particularly fun product to work with.” While Sean Kenyon, owner of Williams and Graham in Denver, Colorado, says “Jägermeister is a truly versatile liqueur; excellent on its own, but it’s true beauty is in cocktail applications. As a complementary ingredient, it adds complexity, aromatics and subtle sweetness to cocktails.”

More and more frequently, prominent chefs have been dabbling with Jäger’s flavor complexity and versatility in cooking. Celebrity chef Chris Santos recently created an entire five-course menu of Jäger-infused grilled BBQ fare at his NYC hotspot Beauty & Essex, and debuted an exclusive dinner featuring six spirited courses paired with specialty cocktails during last week’s Tales of The Cocktail festival in New Orleans. Santos also showcased several Jäger-fueled dishes—including Jägermeister-Kissed Chicken Skewers, the Ultimate Charred Jägermeister Burger, and Black Cherry & Jägermeister Baby Back Ribs—on the menu at his other popular restaurant, The Stanton Social.

So don’t be surprised if you come across Jäger on the menu during your next night out. Dare to give it another try?

Drink. Tip. Make a Difference. Next time you’re craving a cold beverage, belly up to the bar atNeely’s Barbecue Parlor, where one incredibly generous employee has taken the fight against breast cancer—literally—into her own hands. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bartender Michelle Milton will be donating 100 percent of her tips made during the month of October to Chemo Comfort—a volunteer grassroots organization that provides cancer patients with kits to help with the side effects of chemotherapy.

A former media account executive, Michelle made bartending her new career four years ago, and became a dedicated breast cancer awareness advocate after losing loved ones to the disease. “I’ve lost close friends to breast cancer, including the woman that was my mentor. Also both of my parents passed from other types of cancer, so this cause really hits hard for me personally.” Michelle shared.

In the past three years, she has raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer foundations by selflessly dedicating all of her tips—the bulk of her salary for the month. And at the end of October, Michelle will shave her head as an act of solidarity to everyone with the disease.

Be sure to stop byNeely’s Barbecue Parlor and say hi to Michelle. Drink up, tip till your heart’s content, and help in the fight!

With a killer cocktail scene and some of the bar industry’s best talents, New York City is a spirited force to be reckoned with. So when the Top 10 Finalists for the 2012 Spirited Awards were announced, it’s no surprise that the Big Apple is representing across the board.

Held during New Orleans’ annual mixology festival, Tales of the Cocktail, the Spirited Awards will honor the world’s best bars, bartenders, writers, cocktail experts and more. Following a rigorous evaluation of hundreds of nominees, ten finalists have been selected in each of 17 categories.

Check out the full list of finalists here. The top ten in each category will then be whittled down to a final three on Thursday, June 7th. Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 28 at the Spirited Awards ceremony, as part of the 10th Anniversary Tales of the Cocktail celebration.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees, but of course, I’d like to especially raise a glass to my NYC friends and favorites who made the list this year. Cheers!